The OBT project is based on the IAMU Tasmanian Statement (Objective 6: “Provision of quality sea time for cadets”). The key goal for the project is the Development of measures to ensure quality of OBT for First Certificate of Competency (FCoC) as a part of the mandatory seagoing service required by the STCW Convention.

Based on OBT WG activity results in 2019 the Philippines and IAMU submitted to MSC 101 a proposal for a new output on the development of provisions on quality of onboard training of prospective officers (MSC 101/21/1); The IAMU also submitted comments on document HTW 6/12/3 (ICS)- Comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code (HTW 6/12/5);

In 2019-2020 IAMU OBT WG has conducted several studies on OBT for FCoC by developing feedback questionnaires and collecting data and views from MET institutions, shipping companies and seafarers on OBT challenges, which were submitted to IMO on behalf of IAMU together with Philippines and Georgia (HTW 7/10, HTW 7/10/1, HTW 7/INF.6). Further data received from about 700 prospective officers were partially presented in document HTW 4/INF.4.

The document HTW 7/10 discusses the challenges faced by Administrations, MET institutions, shipping companies and ship personnel in the organization of mandatory OBT for prospective officers as laid down by STCW regulations and proposes to develop amendments to these regulations for ensuring the quality of OBT by optimal allocation of training responsibilities and resources among training providers.

The document HTW 7/10/1 discusses a proposal to upgrade the level of the functional efficiency of the TRB for the First Certificate of Competency (FCoC) by developing amendments to part B of the STCW Code.

This document HTW 7/INF.6, submitted to IMO, provides the HTW Sub-Committee with information on the IAMU project “Comprehensive study on quality of OBT”, part III: OBT questionnaire feedback data from ship personnel, shipping companies and MET institutions.

Members

Outcomes

• HTW 2-INF.2 – IAMU understanding of some Human Element issues (IAMU)
• HTW 4-INF.4 – Quality of On-board Training (OBT) (IAMU)
• HTW 5-INF.5 – Quality of Onboard Training (OBT) First Certificate of Competency (FCoC) (IAMU)
• HTW 6-12-5 – Comments on document HTW 6123 (IAMU)
• HTW 7-10 – Ensuring quality of Onboard Training (OBT) for prospective officers through thestreamlinin… (Georgia, the Philippines…)
• HTW 7-10-1 – Ensuring quality of Onboard Training (OBT) by upgrading the functional efficiency ofthe Tr… (y Georgia, the Philippine…)
• HTW 7-INF.6 – Comprehensive study of Onboard Training (OBT) for First CoC (IAMU)
• MSC 101-21-1 – Proposal for a new output on the development of provisions on quality of onboard training… (Philippines and IAMU)